TCA: HBO/Cinemax Programming Overview

The pay networks released an overview of upcoming programming on Thursday.

HBO/CINEMAX PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW

DRAMA SERIES

TRUE BLOOD: Based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, this Emmy-nominated hit series follows waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people's thoughts and vampires Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard). The sixth season concludes Aug. 18.

THE NEWSROOM: This series centers on a cable news anchor (Jeff Daniels), his executive producer (Emily Mortimer), his newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn) and their boss (Sam Waterston). In the new season, the staff of "News Night" chases a mysterious tip, which leads to a story that ultimately spins out of control. Aaron Sorkin created the series and executive produces along with Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. The second season concludes Sept. 15.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE: Set in the 1920s during Prohibition, this Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series chronicles the life and times of "Nucky" Thompson, the undisputed leader of Atlantic City. Steve Buscemi stars as Thompson; other cast regulars for the fourth season include Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Jack Huston, Stephen Graham, Michael Stuhlbarg, Vincent Piazza, Paul Sparks, Michael Kenneth Williams, Gretchen Mol, Anthony Laciura, Ron Livingston and Jeffrey Wright. The series was created by Terence Winter, who also serves as executive producer with Martin Scorsese, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg and Tim Van Patten. The fourth season begins Sept. 8.

TREME: From David Simon, creator of "The Wire" and "Generation Kill," and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of "Homicide: Life on the Street," this HBO series explores a unique American culture rebuilding after historic devastation, chronicling the life of New Orleans residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Cast members include Wendell Pierce, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, Rob Brown, Steve Zahn, Kim Dickens, Melissa Leo, Michiel Huisman, Lucia Micarelli, Jon Seda, David Morse and India Ennenga. The fourth and final season begins later this year.

GAME OF THRONES: Based on the popular book series "A Song of Ice and Fire," by George R.R. Martin, this hit Emmy-winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. Members of the ensemble cast for the third season included Emmy and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kit Harington and Richard Madden. Executive produced and created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Season four begins in 2014.

COMEDY SERIES

EASTBOUND & DOWN: Starring Danny McBride and executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Jody Hill and Danny McBride, this comedy series tells the story of a star pitcher whose self-destructive behavior knocks him out of major league baseball, leaving him broke, delusional and desperate to regain his former glory. The fourth and final season begins Sept. 29.

HELLO LADIES: Stephen Merchant stars as a gawky, 6' 7" Englishman searching for the woman of his dreams in Los Angeles. Half as charming - and twice as desperate - as he thinks he is, he's obsessed with infiltrating the glamorous world of beautiful people, who won't let him in. Produced in association with ABC Studios. Stephen Merchant, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg created and executive produce the series, which debuts Sept. 29.

GIRLS: Created by and starring Lena Dunham, this Emmy-winning series is a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their 20s. Dunham executive produces along with Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Ilene S. Landress and Bruce Eric Kaplan. The cast also includes Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver and Alex Karpovsky. The show returns for its third season in 2014.

VEEP: Created by Armando Iannucci, this Emmy-nominated series stars Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus as former senator Selina Meyer, who becomes vice president, only to discover the job is nothing like she expected, but everything she was warned about. The show also stars Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy C. Simons, Sufe Bradshaw and Kevin Dunn. Iannucci executive produces along with Christopher Godsick and Frank Rich. The show returns for its third season in 2014.

OTHER SERIES

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER: Now in its 11th season, this live Emmy-nominated weekly show is devoted to news and comedy, allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues. Editions debut Fridays at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) through Aug. 2, followed by a summer hiatus, and resumes the season Sept. 13.

VICE: HBO partners with VICE, a premier new media company, on this innovative news magazine show, hosted by VICE founder Shane Smith, covering the kinds of stories often overlooked by mainstream media outlets. The weekly series is executive produced by Bill Maher, Shane Smith and Eddy Moretti, VICE's chief creative officer, with CNN's Fareed Zakaria serving as consultant. The second season begins in 2014.

HBO FILMS

CLEAR HISTORY: This HBO Films comedy stars Larry David as a marketing executive at a start-up electric car company who gives up his ten percent of the business after a petty argument with his boss. The company subsequently makes billions of dollars, destroying his life and leaving him publicly humiliated. Ten years later, after changing his name and moving to a small island off the Massachusetts coast, all is well - until something from the past threatens his new life. Jon Hamm, Bill Hader, Philip Baker Hall, Kate Hudson, Michael Keaton, Danny McBride, Eva Mendes, Amy Ryan and J.B. Smoove also star. Directed by Greg Mottola; written by Larry David, Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer; executive producers, Bradley Thomas, Greg Mottola, Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer; Monica Levinson produces; Laura Streicher associate produces. Debuts Aug. 10.

MIKE TYSON: UNDISPUTED TRUTH: Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee bring Tyson's hit one-man stage show to TV in this HBO Films presentation. Raw, honest, powerful and full of humor, the stage production of "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth" features "Iron Mike" recounting his life's highs and lows in his signature candid style. He opens up about his troubled youth, landmark boxing career, key people in his life, controversies, time in prison, self-examination, family and new beginnings. Executive produced by Spike Lee, Mike Tyson, Kiki Tyson, Jon Kilik and James Nederlander; directed by Spike Lee; written by Kiki Tyson. Debuts later this year.

THE NORMAL HEART: Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Alfred Molina, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts, the HBO Films presentation co-stars Joe Mantello, Joel Grey, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock and BD Wong. Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, the drama tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fought to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city in denial. Ryan Murphy, Jason Blum, Dede Gardner and Dante Di Loreto executive produce; Mark Ruffalo co-executive produces. Debuts in 2014.

COMEDY SPECIALS

SARAH SILVERMAN: WE ARE MIRACLES: Sarah Silverman headlines her first HBO comedy special, taped in Los Angeles and presented in association with Funny Or Die. Debuts Nov. 23.

HBO DOCUMENTARIES

FIRST COMES LOVE: Director Nina Davenport chronicles her quest to have a baby on her own, ranging from hormone injections to post-natal chaos, while highlighting her conventional family's reaction to her unconventional decision. Unsparingly honest, occasionally hilarious and ultimately moving, the documentary offers a fresh take on parenthood. Debuts July 29.

CASTING BY: This film spotlights one of filmmaking's unsung heroes - the casting director - viewing the last half-century of Hollywood history from a different perspective. Iconoclastic casting pioneers like Marion Dougherty and Lynn Stalmaster used their exquisite taste and gut instincts to reject traditional Hollywood typecasting and bring new kinds of leading men and women to the screen, such as Dustin Hoffman, Bette Midler, Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman. In the process, they helped change the old studio system and usher in a new Hollywood through movies like "Midnight Cowboy," "The Graduate," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Bonnie and Clyde." Directed by Tom Donahue. Debuts Aug. 5.

AMERICANS IN BED: Ten American couples - filmed in the comfort of their own beds -candidly discuss romance, sex, trust and love. From young New Yorkers who have split up 26 times, to spouses in their 90s who have been married 71 years, this touching, funny and often surprising film offers intimate insights into what makes or breaks a relationship. Directed by Phillipa Robinson. Debuts Aug. 12.

GLICKMAN: This stirring film tells the triumphant story of Marty Glickman (1917-2001), a Jewish-American athlete who was denied the chance to represent the U.S. in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but went on to become one of the most revered and influential sportscasters, pioneering many of the techniques, phrases and programming innovations that are commonplace in sports reporting today. Debuts Aug. 26.

FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED: Acclaimed filmmaker Alan Berliner paints an intimate portrait of poet, translator and professor Edwin Honig on his journey into the depths of Alzheimer's disease. Debuts Sept. 23.

VALENTINE ROAD: This disturbing film unravels the murder of a young teenager who had begun exploring his gender identity, detailing the circumstances that led to the school shooting by a fellow student, as well as its complicated aftermath. Directed and produced by first-time filmmaker Marta Cunningham and produced by Sasha Alpert and Eddie Schmidt, the powerful documentary raises questions about the safety of LGBT teens, while challenging the efficacy of the country's educational and juvenile justice systems to prevent these kinds of tragedies. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Debuts Oct. 7.

MONDAYS AT RACINE: Nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar earlier this year, director Cynthia Wade's film visits a Long Island beauty salon that opens its doors to women diagnosed with cancer. Debuts Oct. 14 during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

OPEN HEART: Nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar earlier this year, director Kief Davidson's film follows an Italian cardiologist in Southern Sudan as he fights to save the lives of young patients who have traveled from Rwanda for high-risk heart surgery. Debuts Oct. 14.

REDEMPTION: Nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar earlier this year, director Jon Alpert and Matt O'Neill's film looks at the growing army of jobless New Yorkers whose treasures are found in trash through collecting five-cent bottles and cans. Debuts Oct. 14.

LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM: This moving film explores the remarkable world of 16-year-old Sam Berns, spotlighting his family's courageous fight to save their son from the extremely rare and fatal disease Progeria, a progressive aging disorder. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, it chronicles their inspiring, relentless pursuit of a treatment and cure as they empower Sam to enjoy the fullest life possible. Directed by Sean and Andrea Fine. Debuts Oct. 21.

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED: In May 2012, director James Toback and actor Alec Baldwin made their way through the Cannes Film Festival, attempting to finance a project they proposed to do together. Filmed by Toback, this cinematic romp chronicles their hilarious and revealing experiences, capturing the tug-of-war between the art and commerce. Debuts Oct. 28.

TALES FROM THE ORGAN TRADE: This film is an unflinching descent into the shadowy world of black-market organ trafficking: the brokers, the rogue surgeons, the impoverished men and women who are willing to sacrifice an organ for a quick payday and the desperate patients who face the agonizing choice of obeying the law or saving their lives. Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock; narrated by David Cronenberg; produced by Ric Esther Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici. Debuts Nov. 4.

DIAL ONE FOR VETS: This timely film reveals the epidemic of suicide among American war veterans. According to the VA, one veteran dies by suicide in America every 80 minutes, and while only 1% of Americans has served in the military, former service members account for 20% of all suicides in the U.S. Since 2001, more veterans have died by their own hand than in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Directed by Ellen Goosenberg and produced by Dana Perry. Debuts Nov. 11.

TOXIC HOT SEAT: Director James Redford follows a courageous group of firefighters, mothers, journalists, scientists, politicians and other activists as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign of deception that left a toxic legacy in America's homes and bodies and has taken nearly 40 years to unravel. Debuts Nov. 25.

THE BATTLE OF AMFAR: This documentary shows how Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor and research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim fought to create America's first national AIDS research foundation. An official selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, it chronicles the organization's history and continuing importance in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Debuts Dec. 2.

SIX BY SONDHEIM: This feature documentary is an intimate look at the prolific career of renowned American lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim ("Company," "Follies," "Sweeney Todd"), for whom art and life are never separate. The film is a story of both, highlighted by his experiences writing six of his most celebrated songs: "Something's Coming," "Opening Doors," "Send in the Clowns," "I'm Still Here," "Being Alive" and "Sunday." Told primarily by Sondheim himself, it draws on his extensive personal archive and dozens of interviews from all stages of his career, underscoring his honesty and passion for his art. New performances by such stars as Audra McDonald, Jarvis Cocker, Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, America Ferrera and Sondheim himself have been produced exclusively for the special. Directed by Tony winner James Lapine, with musical segments directed by Todd Haynes, Autumn de Wilde and James Lapine. Debuts Dec. 9.

SPORTS

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS: HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Cincinnati Bengals team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when the first sports-based reality series - and one of the fastest-turnaround programs on TV - kicks off its five-episode eighth season Aug. 6.

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL: Winner of 25 Sports Emmys, and the only sports show ever to receive a Columbia University-duPont broadcast journalism award, this magazine program explores issues, controversies and personalities in the sports world with provocative reports in new monthly editions. Host Bryant Gumbel is joined by correspondents Mary Carillo, Frank Deford, Jon Frankel, Bernard Goldberg, Andrea Kremer and Soledad O'Brien. The next edition debuts Aug. 20.

LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD: This one-hour exclusive HBO Sports presentation revisits the unforgettable three-fight trilogy of junior welterweights Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. Over 13 months, these two throwback sluggers engaged in 30 electrifying rounds of action, with Gatti winning both Atlantic City bouts (Nov. 23, 2002 and June 7, 2003), following Ward's dramatic triumph in the opener (May 18, 2002) in Uncasville, Ct. Debuts this fall.

THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY: Hosted by the four-time Sports Emmy winner, this series is a provocative, engaging and informative program that delves into intriguing storylines, newsmakers and issues that are top-of-mind in boxing.

CINEMAX SERIES

STRIKE BACK: This Emmy-nominated hit action series follows a stealth counterterrorism unit as it spans the globe to stop potential threats, often behind enemy lines. Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton star. The returning cast also includes Rhona Mitra and Michelle Lukes; new cast members include Robson Green, Milauna Jackson and Dougray Scott. In the new season, the team pursues a deadly terrorist network from Colombia to Lebanon to Europe, uncovering deadly plots that reach to the West. A CINEMAX Presentation in association with British Sky Broadcasting Limited; a Left Bank Pictures Production; executive producer, Andy Harries. The third season begins Aug. 9.

BANSHEE: This action series follows an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal activities, even as he's being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Rus Blackwell, Ryann Shane and Ben Cross star. Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Peter Macdissi, Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler executive produce. The second season debuts in 2014.

TAKEN 2 - Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen. (Directed by Olivier Megaton; written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen; based on characters created by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.) Debuts Aug. 9.